Most political parties against coming under RTI: who said what

New Delhi: A day after the Central Information Commission (CIC)'s landmark order which places six major political parties under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, most parties today rejected the order.

Here are the reactions to the CIC order:

Janardhan Dwivedi, Congress spokesperson
It is not acceptable. We totally disagree with it. Such adventurist approach will create lot of harm and damage to democratic institutions.

P Chidambaram, Finance Minister
CIC order is a rather unusual interpretation of the provisions of the RTI Act. To describe political parties as public authority strains credulity ... it does not appear to be based on credible argument.

Salman Khurshid, Minister of External Affairs
There is a logic of RTI and this is reflected in its orders. The logic will be tested at various levels including by the courts. I think we should be overtly sensitive to the evolving nature of RTI but at the same time I think it is important to keep a practical control of RTI objectives because it cannot be allowed to run riot.

V Narayansamy, Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office
Political parties, according to me, are not government organisations. These are private organisations. I will study the judgement and then be able to comment on it.

Sharad Yadav, JD(U) Chief
There is already a Constitutional body - the Election Commission - to which every political party is answerable and is bound to function under its directives... RTI is not a dukaan (shop), political power of parties is being undermined by this UPA government."

Prakash Karat, CPM leader
There is a misconception that political parties are public authorities. No problems in revealing source of funding but that does not mean every internal process is open to public scrutiny.

CPI(M) statement
This decision is based on a fundamental misconception about the role of political parties in a parliamentary democracy... This will interfere with and hamper the functioning of a political party.

Arun Jaitley, senior BJP leader
CIC decision needs to be discussed and debated. Personally I am not uneasy with his decision... I don't think heavens will fall if the funding and accounts of a party is made public.

Captain Abhimanyu, BJP spokesman
BJP is not against anything that brings transparency and accountability which is equally applicable to all. We will follow the law.